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It could be actual news or it might just be rumour mongers with
no insight looking to fill the void. Same as it ever was.
It’s been a few days now since we’ve heard anything—real or
otherwise—on the Thiago Alcantara front, which means we’re well
past due another update that could either be an actual update based
on real insight or just the rumour mongers making noise.
Either way, the latest Thiago chatter, care of Sky’s Kaveh Solhekol, has the Reds considering
pushing back their recruitment of the 29-year-old Bayern midfielder
until January, when they could agree a pre-contract before signing
him on a free in the summer.
If you’re inclined to believe that Liverpool have in fact agreed personal terms with the
player and have spent the past month or so trying to drive down
Bayern’s asking price, then this is the next logical step. It’s the
last card the Reds can play to get a better deal.
It’s a reminder to Bayern that if they don’t drop their asking
price to something Liverpool are happy to pay this m onth, they
risk losing Thiago on a free next summer—or for far less in
January, in just three-and-a-half months, after he agrees a
pre-contract.
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Conversely, given it is the next logical step, it’s the
kind of easy, speculative story that could be thrown into the mix
regardless of whether there’s any truth or insight underpinning it.
It’s a way to further drag out a story that’s dragged out now for
quite some time.
Meanwhile in Germany, Bayern returned for pre-season this
week—minus Thiago, given extra time off due to international
commitments—and manager Hansi Flick has been telling reporters
they’re happy to keep the player for the final year of his
deal.
All of which doesn’t appear to bring us any closer to a done
deal than we were before despite the past insistence of the rumour
mongers—the same ones updating us now—that a deal was sure
to be done shortly after Bayern’s 2019-20 season ended.